Choices

Back from a wonderful break and the children are in full swing.  They have lots of energy and are so happy to be back at school.  I find this time of year to be especially challenging for teachers and students.  It's kind of a "limbo" if you will.  We had a long week off and only four weeks until another long break.  It's difficult to keep the students in routine sometimes once they've gotten out of routine.  I find that using choices is most effective for me.  Giving the students real choices helps them to feel empowered.

I love this time of year, but the weather is constantly changing, children are really sick (a lot), and there is excitement everywhere.  Remembering to give my students choices helps them to feel in control and take ownership of their actions.  They are responsible for the choices they make.  As always, there are consequences, both good and not so good, but I think they realize that it's their choice that determines those consequences, not mine.  Even at this young age, choices are helpful.  I have to keep reminding myself that we still have school for these four weeks and routines are essential to thrive..

Thankful

This post is long overdue.  I kept waiting for some Community Helper pictures, but everyone is very busy.  I will post those when I get them.  What I did want to say is how Thankful I am for everyone here.  This is an amazing place to work.  From the Administration at Webb to the teachers and students at Head Start, I am ever so grateful each day.  The precious children at the center, our babies, are a joy in my life.  If I am ever feeling down all I have to do is go and talk with one of them.  Their joy and excitement are contagious.
This Thanksgiving I will be giving thanks for all the people in my life those who are my blood relatives and those who are my chosen family.  Thanksgiving marks the beginning of a very hectic time of year, but also a time of wonder and happiness.  I'm looking forward to spending these next few weeks appreciating all the happy energy around me.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Routines

I read 4 different books, 1 each week,  for 4 weeks in each class.  In other words, we do a book a week and I rotate the books so that at the end of the 4 weeks each class has heard all 4 books.  I tell other stories as well, but I usually have a central "theme" that I use for the 4 weeks.  This time is one of my favorites: monsters.  Well, not really monsters, Jack & the Beanstalk, Abiyoyo, Go Away Big, Green Monster and The Very Busy Spider.  I love these stories.  Usually, I will read the story myself the first time I do it and then I will use
recordings, iPad apps, YouTube videos and such to tell the story in another way.

This year I couldn't find my copy of The Very Busy Spider, so I ended up telling the story from a book written in Spanish.  It was fun and frustrating to look at the words and try to figure out what they said, but I also knew the story well enough to tell it without the exact text.  I love it when I get to that place where I can just tell the story.  The same is true for the other books.  Go Away Big, Green Monster has an app that has the story in song form.  For Abiyoyo I have an iPod recording of Pete Seeger telling the story.  Jack & the Beanstalk is a different story.  I don't usually use a different version of this book.  The one that I have is simple enough and flows nicely.  It's one that we got with grant money many years ago.  I enjoy the Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum part the best because I get to sound like a giant and the kids are really engaged.

All in all, this is a great group of books and the children really enjoy them.  They are among the ones most requested when I see them in Pre-K.